After years of seeing street signs along Stoner Avenue disappear, Bemidji has decided it’s had enough.

Tired of the thefts, city officials have decided to change the street’s name.

Public works officials in Bemidji say about 15 “Stoner Avenue” signs disappear each year from the street located south of Lake Bemidji. It costs about $100 to replace each sign. Officials say the city has probably spent close to $20,000 over the past decade.

Beltrami County had similar problems with its Stoner Memorial Drive, according to a report in The Bemidji Pioneer. A few years ago, the county changed the name of that roadway to North Blackduck Lake Road Northeast.

A name change means people living on Stoner Avenue will have to update their drivers license, banking and other documents, but city officials say the cost of a name change to the city will be minimal.

The process of changing the street name includes a series of ordinance readings and a public hearing. No decision has been made on what the new street name will be.

About the blogger

Related Blog Posts

“A name change means people living on Stoner Avenue will have to update their drivers license, banking and other documents, but city officials say the cost of a name change to the city will be minimal.”

How about the city using something other than a simple nut-and-bold assembly to secure the sign and post? Do they realize how much it costs each individual who lives on the street to change everything? Not just monetarily but time as well?

Did the name change recently? Or has this theft been going on for years? If its recent why wasn’t this a concern from the beginning and additional installation steps put in place? If this has been an ongoing issue, why is it being addressed now, rather than …reinforcing the signage!